I really like this acronym S.M.A.R.T., because we want to be smart when
we set our goals. We want to intelligently decide what our goals will be so
that we can actually accomplish them. We want to set the goals that our
heart conceives, that our mind believes and that our bodies will carry out.
Let's take a closer look at each of the components of S.M.A.R.T. goals:

Specific:

Goals are no place to waffle.
They are no place to be vague. Ambiguous goals produce ambiguous
results. Incomplete goals produce incomplete futures.

When we are specific, we harness the power of our dreams and set forces
into action that empower us to achieve our goals. We then know exactly
what it is we are shooting for. There is no question. As we establish our
priorities and manage our time, we do so for a specific goal to achieve
the results we expect. There is no wondering or guessing. The future is
locked into our minds and we see it—specifically—and that is powerful!
Never underestimate just how important it is to have very specific,
concrete goals. They act as magnets that draw you toward them! A
S.M.A.R.T. goal is specific.

Measurable:

Always set goals that are
measurable. I would say "specifically measurable" to take into account our
principle of being specific as well. Our goals should be such that we know
when we are advancing and by how much. Whether it is by hours, pounds,
dollars or whatever, we should be able to see exactly how we are measuring
up as we proceed through the journey of life using our goals. Could you
imagine if you didn't measure your goals? You would never know which way
you were going or even if you were going anywhere! A S.M.A.R.T. goal
is measurable.

Attainable:

One of the detrimental things
that many people do—and they do it with good intentions—is to set goals
that are so high they are unattainable. Yes, it is very important to set
big goals that cause your heart to soar with excitement, but it is also
imperative to make sure that they are attainable. In the next section we
talk about being realistic. So what does it mean to be attainable? An
attainable goal is one that is both realistic but also attainable in a
shorter period of time than what you have to work with. Now when I say
attainable, I don't mean easy. Our goals should be set so they are just
out of our reach; so they will challenge us to grow as we reach forward to
achieve them. After the next paragraph, I will give you an example of a
goal that is both attainable and realistic. A S.M.A.R.T. goal is
attainable.

Realistic:

The root word of realistic is
"real." A goal has to be something that we can reasonably make "real" or a
"reality" in our lives. There are some goals that simply are not
realistic. You have to be able to say, even if it is a tremendously
stretching goal, that yes, indeed, it is entirely realistic—that
you could make it. You may even have to say that it will take x, y, and z
to do it, but if those happen, then it can be done. This is in no way to
say it shouldn't be a big goal, but it must be realistic. This is to a
great degree, up to the individual. For one person a goal may be
realistic, but for another unrealistic. I would encourage you to be very
honest with yourself as you do your planning and evaluation. Perhaps it
would be good to get a friend to help you (as long as that friend is by
nature an optimist and not a pessimist). This can go a long way toward
helping you know what is realistic. A S.M.A.R.T. goal is realistic.

Time:

Every goal should have a
timeframe attached to it. I think that life itself is much more productive
for us as humans because there is a timeframe connected to it. Could you
imagine how much procrastination there would be on earth if people never
died? We would never get "around to it." We could always put it off. One
of the powerful aspects of a great goal is that it has an end, a time in
which you are shooting to accomplish it. You start working on it because
you know there is an end. As time goes by you work because you don't want
to get behind. As it approaches, you work diligently because you want to
meet the deadline. You may even have to break down a big goal into
different measured parts time frames. That is okay. Set smaller goals and
work them out in their own time. A S.M.A.R.T. goal has a timeline.

Be sure to spend some reflection time this week to make sure your goals
fit the S.M.A.R.T. parameters. Go through the reflection questions below and
the action points associated with them. Doing so will put a real engine in
your goals and make them charged with power to help you accomplish your
dreams.